Cooking Steps

• Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Lightly grease a 9x13 inch baking dish.
• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the ziti pasta until just al dente, about 1-2 minutes less than package instructions. Drain and set aside.
• While pasta cooks, heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the chopped onion and sauté for about 4-5 minutes until softened and translucent.
• Add the minced garlic and cook for an additional 1 minute, stirring frequently to avoid burning.
• Add the ground beef to the skillet. Break it up with a spoon and cook until browned and cooked through, about 6-7 minutes. Drain excess fat if necessary.
• Stir in the marinara sauce, dried oregano, half of the fresh basil, salt, black pepper, and optional red pepper flakes. Reduce heat to low and simmer the sauce gently for 10-15 minutes to meld the flavors.
• In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooked ziti pasta with the meat sauce. Toss gently to coat all the pasta.
• Spread half of the pasta mixture evenly in the prepared baking dish. Sprinkle half of the shredded mozzarella and a few tablespoons of Parmesan over the layer.